What Skills to List on a Resume? 50+ Examples & How to Choose

If you are asking what skills to list on a resume, the most useful answer is not simply a list of popular words such as “hardworking” or “team player.” The right skills are the abilities that match the job you want and that you can support with real experience, projects, education, training, or measurable results.

A strong resume usually combines job-specific technical skills with a smaller number of relevant soft skills. You should also tailor the wording to the job description so recruiters can quickly see that your background matches what the employer needs. Current career guidance from Indeed recommends tailoring resumes to job descriptions, while CareerOneStop advises listing only skills relevant to the job and emphasizing technical or job-specific skills in the skills section.

This guide explains which skills to list, which ones to leave out, how many skills to include, how to write them for ATS screening, and how to choose examples for different jobs.

What Skills Should You List on a Resume?

You should list skills that are relevant to the job, current, and honest. The strongest skills are usually the ones mentioned in the job posting and the ones you can demonstrate through your work, projects, education, certifications, or other experience.

For example, a marketing job may call for SEO, Google Analytics, email marketing, content strategy, and campaign management. An administrative position may emphasize Microsoft Excel, scheduling, data entry, customer service, and organization. A software developer may need Python, JavaScript, SQL, Git, and problem-solving.

There is no universal “perfect” skills list. Your resume should change depending on the role you are applying for.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills on a Resume

Understanding the difference between hard and soft skills makes it easier to build a useful skills section.

Hard skills

Hard skills are specific, learned abilities that are often measurable or tied closely to a particular job. They can come from work experience, education, courses, training, certifications, or personal projects.

Examples include:

• Microsoft Excel
• SQL
• Python
• Adobe Photoshop
• Bookkeeping
• Payroll processing
• SEO
• Google Analytics
• Project management
• Data analysis

CareerOneStop describes technical skills as abilities used to perform specific tasks and notes that they are often included directly in job listings.

Soft skills

Soft skills are interpersonal and thinking abilities that affect how you work with other people and handle tasks.

Examples include:

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Time management
• Leadership
• Organization
• Active listening
• Conflict resolution

Soft skills can matter across many occupations, but simply listing ten personality words does not prove that you have them. A better resume connects those skills to evidence in the experience section.

What Are the Most Important Skills to List on a Resume?

The most important skills depend on the position, but several categories appear across many types of work.

1. Communication

Communication can include written communication, verbal communication, active listening, presenting information, client communication, and professional email writing.

Instead of writing only “Communication,” make it more specific when the job allows it. Examples include client communication, professional writing, presentation skills, or stakeholder communication.

2. Problem-solving

Employers often value people who can identify problems, evaluate options, and take practical action. This is especially relevant in operations, customer service, technology, healthcare, management, and technical jobs.

3. Teamwork and collaboration

Most jobs require some interaction with coworkers, managers, customers, vendors, or clients. Useful versions of this skill include cross-functional collaboration, team coordination, stakeholder management, and collaborative problem-solving.

4. Time management

Time management is more useful when connected to the job. For example, a project coordinator might list deadline management, scheduling, task prioritization, and project coordination.

5. Leadership

Leadership is not limited to managers. It can include mentoring, project leadership, team coordination, training, decision-making, and taking ownership of important tasks.

6. Organization

Organization matters in administrative, operations, project, healthcare, education, and many office roles. More specific terms such as calendar management, records management, documentation, workflow organization, or inventory management can be stronger than simply writing “organized.”

7. Adaptability

Adaptability shows that you can handle changing priorities, tools, processes, or working conditions. Use it when you can support it with an example from your experience.

Job-Specific Resume Skills Examples

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is copying the same skills section into every application. A better approach is to start with your full skill set and then select the skills that fit the specific role.

Administrative and office jobs

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Google Workspace
• Calendar management
• Data entry
• Document management
• Scheduling
• Customer service
• Meeting coordination
• Records management

For an administrative assistant role, these practical skills usually tell an employer much more than a long list of generic personality traits.

Customer service jobs

• Customer relationship management (CRM)
• Call handling
• Conflict resolution
• Complaint handling
• Order processing
• Live chat support
• Active listening
• Product knowledge
• Written communication
• Problem-solving

Sales jobs

• Lead generation
• Prospecting
• Account management
• CRM software
• Negotiation
• Sales presentations
• Pipeline management
• Cold calling
• Upselling and cross-selling
• Relationship management

Marketing jobs

• SEO
• Content marketing
• Email marketing
• Google Analytics
• Social media marketing
• Keyword research
• Campaign management
• Copywriting
• Marketing analytics
• Content strategy

Information technology jobs

• Python
• JavaScript
• SQL
• Git
• Cloud computing
• Network administration
• Cybersecurity
• Linux
• Technical support
• System administration

Finance and accounting jobs

• Financial analysis
• Microsoft Excel
• QuickBooks
• Accounts payable
• Accounts receivable
• Bookkeeping
• Financial reporting
• Budget management
• Reconciliation
• Data analysis

Healthcare jobs

• Patient care
• Electronic health records
• Clinical documentation
• Patient communication
• Medical terminology
• Vital signs monitoring
• HIPAA compliance
• Care coordination
• Record keeping
• Team collaboration

Education jobs

• Lesson planning
• Classroom management
• Curriculum development
• Student assessment
• Differentiated instruction
• Parent communication
• Learning management systems
• Instructional technology
• Student support
• Public speaking

If you are also working on your broader career development, see our guide on ways to fast-track career development for additional job-search and career tips.

What Skills Should You List on a Resume With No Experience?

When you have little or no formal work experience, you can still list useful skills. Look at your education, coursework, internships, volunteer work, student organizations, personal projects, freelance work, and other activities for evidence of what you can do.

For example, a recent graduate applying for a marketing internship might list:

• Content writing
• Social media management
• Keyword research
• Canva
• Basic Google Analytics
• Research
• Presentation skills
• Team collaboration

The key is honesty. Do not claim advanced expertise in a tool simply because you watched a tutorial. You can use terms such as “familiar with” or “basic” when that accurately describes your level, although your skills section should usually prioritize abilities you can actually use.

What Skills Should You List on a Resume for an Entry-Level Job?

Entry-level resumes can combine practical technical skills with transferable abilities.

Where possible, prove these skills in your experience section. A project that shows you used Excel to organize 500 records is stronger than simply claiming “Excel” without context.

How Many Skills Should You Put on a Resume?

There is no single number that works for every resume. The goal is to include enough relevant skills to show your fit without turning the section into a keyword list.

For many resumes, a focused list of roughly 8 to 15 relevant skills is a practical starting point. Highly technical roles may require more because employers need to see specific tools, platforms, languages, or technologies. A senior specialist may also need a wider technical skills section.

Relevance matters more than quantity. Ten skills that directly match the job are usually more useful than thirty generic skills that have little connection to the position.

How to Choose Skills From the Job Description

The job description is one of your best sources for deciding which skills belong on your resume.

Start by identifying repeated or clearly emphasized requirements. Look for technical tools, certifications, responsibilities, industry terms, and soft skills that appear important to the employer.

Then compare those requirements with your actual background.

Using the employer’s real terminology can help both the human reader and automated screening software understand that your background matches the position. Indeed’s current resume guidance specifically recommends identifying keywords in the job description and using relevant terms across the summary, experience, and skills portions of the resume.

How to Make Your Resume Skills ATS-Friendly

An applicant tracking system, or ATS, is software employers may use to organize and screen applications. These systems can parse resumes for relevant skills, qualifications, and other information.

To make your skills section easier for both ATS software and people to read:

• Use a standard heading such as Skills or Technical Skills.
• Use familiar terms that match the job description when they truthfully describe your experience.
• Write software and technical skills clearly instead of hiding them in graphics.
• Keep your formatting simple and readable.
• Avoid stuffing unrelated keywords into the document.

CareerOneStop recommends a simple, single-column resume format and standard section headings because some applicant tracking systems can struggle with complex layouts, tables, images, or multiple columns.

There is also no reason to try to “trick” an ATS with hidden keywords or white text. The information on your resume should be genuine and readable.

Where Should You Put Skills on a Resume?

Most resumes use a dedicated skills section, but important skills should not be trapped there.

For example, suppose you are applying for a digital marketing position and the job requires SEO and Google Analytics. Your skills section might contain:

SEO | Google Analytics | Keyword Research | Content Marketing | Email Marketing

Then your experience section should show those skills in action:

Optimized 80+ website pages for target search terms and used Google Analytics to monitor organic traffic and engagement.

This approach is stronger because it tells the employer both what you know and how you used it. CareerOneStop recommends using work experience bullets to show relevant skills, responsibilities, outcomes, and measurable results.

How to Prove Resume Skills With Examples

A skill becomes more convincing when you connect it to an outcome.

Instead of: “Leadership”

Write something like: Led a five-person project team and delivered the project two weeks ahead of schedule.

Instead of: “Customer service”

Use: Handled 40+ customer inquiries per day and resolved account issues while maintaining a high customer satisfaction score.

Instead of: “Data analysis”

Use: Analyzed monthly sales data in Excel and identified trends used to improve inventory planning.

You do not need to invent numbers. Use real metrics when you have them, and describe the outcome honestly when you do not.

Should You Include Soft Skills on Your Resume?

Yes, but be selective.

Soft skills are often useful, especially when they are clearly relevant to the job. However, words such as “hardworking,” “motivated,” “friendly,” and “honest” are weak when they appear without evidence.

A better approach is to use specific, job-relevant soft skills and demonstrate them in your experience.

O*NET and CareerOneStop both recognize the value of interpersonal and thinking skills across occupations, but the most useful resume language connects those abilities to actual work.

Resume Skills for Career Changers

If you are changing careers, focus on transferable skills that connect your previous work to the new role.

For example, someone moving from retail management into an office operations position may have useful skills in team leadership, scheduling, customer communication, inventory management, training, conflict resolution, and reporting.

Do not hide those skills simply because your previous job had a different title. Explain how they apply to the new position.

A skills-focused resume can be particularly helpful for career changers, although the work history should still provide enough detail for employers to understand where the skills came from.

Resume Skills for Remote Jobs

Remote jobs often require a mix of technical and communication skills, but the exact list depends on the position.

Potential examples include:

• Slack or Microsoft Teams
• Zoom
• Project management software
• Written communication
• Async collaboration
• Time management
• Self-management
• Documentation
• Digital file organization
• Remote customer support

Do not list every remote-work tool you have seen. Include the tools and abilities that matter for the job you are applying for.

Resume Skills That Are Often Too Generic

Some skills are so broad that they add little value unless you can make them specific.

Examples include:

• Hardworking
• Good attitude
• Friendly
• Responsible
• Fast learner
• Team player
• Motivated
• People person

These qualities are not necessarily bad. The problem is that almost anyone can claim them. Your resume becomes stronger when your experience demonstrates them instead of asking the employer to take the claim at face value.

Skills You Should Not Put on a Resume

Leave out skills that are unrelated to the role, outdated technologies you can no longer use, or abilities you do not actually possess.

You should also avoid exaggerating proficiency. If a job requires advanced Excel and you only know basic formulas, listing yourself as an Excel expert can create problems later in the hiring process.

The same rule applies to certifications, programming languages, software, and professional skills: list what you can honestly discuss and demonstrate.

How to Build a Skills Section for Your Resume

Use this simple process for each application:

1. Read the job description. Highlight required and preferred skills.
2. Separate technical and transferable skills. Identify which ones you genuinely have.
3. Choose the most relevant skills. Remove items that do not support the target job.
4. Use the employer’s terminology. When accurate, mirror important wording from the posting.
5. Prove the skills in your experience. Add examples, responsibilities, and measurable outcomes where possible.
6. Check the final resume. Make sure every listed skill is truthful and supported by your background.

CareerOneStop recommends tailoring resume content to the position and making relevant qualifications easy for employers to find.

Example Resume Skills Section

Here is an example for a digital marketing specialist:

Skills
SEO & Keyword Research | Content Marketing | Google Analytics | Google Search Console | Email Marketing | Social Media Management | Copywriting | WordPress | Campaign Reporting | Data Analysis

That section is more useful than a generic list such as “communication, hardworking, teamwork, friendly, motivated” because it tells the employer exactly what the candidate can work with.

What Skills to List on a Resume: Quick Guide

Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Skills

What skills should I put on my resume?

List skills that match the job you want and that you can honestly demonstrate. Start with job-specific technical skills, then add a smaller number of relevant soft or transferable skills.

What are the best skills to list on a resume?

There is no single best list for every job. The best skills are the ones the employer needs for the specific position and that match your real experience.

How many skills should I put on a resume?

A focused list of about 8 to 15 relevant skills is a practical starting point for many resumes. Technical roles may require more specific skills.

Should I include soft skills on my resume?

Yes, when they are relevant. Choose specific soft skills and support them with examples in your professional experience rather than relying on generic personality words.

What skills should I list on a resume with no experience?

Use skills gained through education, internships, volunteer work, projects, freelance work, and training. Focus on abilities that relate directly to the entry-level job.

How do I choose resume skills for an ATS?

Read the job description and identify important skills and qualifications. When you genuinely have those skills, use the employer’s wording where appropriate and place relevant terms naturally across your resume.

Should skills be listed in the experience section too?

Yes. A dedicated skills section gives employers a quick overview, while experience bullets show how you actually used those skills.

Can I put skills I learned from a course on my resume?

Yes, provided you have actually developed the skill. For beginner-level knowledge, describe your proficiency honestly and be prepared to discuss or demonstrate what you learned.

Should I change my skills section for every job?

Ideally, yes. You do not need to rewrite your entire resume every time, but adjusting the skills to match each job’s requirements makes the application more relevant.

Should I list “hardworking” and “team player” on my resume?

These phrases are usually too generic on their own. It is stronger to show those qualities through specific responsibilities, achievements, teamwork examples, and results.

Final Thoughts

Knowing what skills to list on a resume is less about finding the longest list and more about choosing the right abilities for the job.

Start with the job description, identify the technical and transferable skills that genuinely match your background, and then use those terms naturally in your skills section and work experience. Technical skills often deserve the most space because they tell employers what you can actually do, while relevant soft skills can strengthen the overall picture.

Most importantly, do not stop at the skills section. Show those skills in action. A resume that says you have project management skills is useful; a resume that explains that you managed deadlines, coordinated a team, and delivered a project on time is much more convincing.

A thoughtful skills section can make your resume easier to scan, more relevant to the job, and more useful to both recruiters and applicant tracking systems. It should never become a collection of keywords with no connection to your real experience.

For more career advice, you can also read Meregate’s guide on career development and building your professional skills.